New York City will host auditions for the Contemporary American Theater Festival’s (CATF) 2026 Summer Season on , at Pearl Studios. The festival, based in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is seeking Equity actors for a season that promises a diverse range of theatrical experiences.
The audition, an Equity Principal Audition (EPA), will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Holding room will be Studio 311. EPA procedures will be in effect, and an Equity Monitor will be present. Notably, due to a scheduled system upgrade, appointment sign-ups are beginning earlier than usual, and cancellations may be temporarily unavailable through Casting Call. Actors needing to cancel appointments are advised to return to Casting Call once the upgrade is complete.
The festival is operating under a LORT Rep contract, offering a weekly minimum of $839 until , increasing to $889 after . First rehearsals are scheduled to begin on , with performances opening between and , and running through .
Casting is being handled by McCorkle Casting, LTD, with Jeffrey Dreisbach and Katie Dietrich expected to be in attendance at the auditions. Peggy McKowen serves as Artistic Director and Amy Wratchford as Managing Director for the festival.
The season’s lineup includes five plays, each offering distinct opportunities for actors. The Bridge, written by Harmon dot aut and directed by Craig Lucas, is described as an immersive and heartbreaking story about a queer, autistic artist experiencing homelessness. The production specifically encourages neurodivergent actors and those with movement or dance skills to audition. Roles include FRANKY, a 20-year-old aspiring artist, and VOICE, a non-binary, queer character in their 50s who functions as narrator and plays all other characters. Understudies will only be considered for the role of VOICE.
Beth Kander’s Miss May Does Not Exist, directed by Jessica Kubzansky, explores the complex relationship between comedy duo Nichols & May and the gender disparities within the entertainment industry. The play seeks actors to portray Elaine May and Mike Nichols at various stages of their careers. The description emphasizes the need for performers who can capture the brilliance, ambition, and vulnerability of these iconic figures.
Yussef El Guindi’s Refugee Rhapsody, directed by Zi Alikhan, delves into the lives of Arab-Americans grappling with themes of love, jealousy, and the refugee experience. The play seeks actors for roles including Sakinah, Fouad, Jenny, Richard/Walled, and Emily.
Lisa D’Amour’s The Smoker, directed by Shelly Butler, examines the bonds formed among a group of individuals who gather for cigarettes on a New York street corner. The play is seeking actors to portray The Smoker, Roberto, Tonya, Kim, and The Lady Who Walks Sammy/Ruthie/Miranda.
Finally, Christina Pumariega’s ¡VOS!, directed by TBD, explores the lives of five women in Argentina across decades of political upheaval. The play seeks actors to portray Annie & Sofia, and Dr. Cossi, Ana & others.
The festival’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is explicitly stated, with Equity encouraging performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend. Actors are reminded to bring their Equity Membership cards to the audition and to prepare a brief, one-minute contemporary monologue, along with a physical copy of their headshot and resume stapled together.
More information about the Contemporary American Theater Festival and the audition process can be found at www.catf.org.
